Sheet dispensing apparatus



H. SCHMIDT SHEET DISPENSING APPARATUS April s, 1958 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 28, 1954 L WJ -3 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 28, 1954 A ril 8, 1958 H- SCHMIDT SHEET DISPENSING APPARATUS 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed July 28, 1954 gill IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII fm/enzon' {l wn a M. 99X now April 8, 1958 H. SCHMIDT 2,829,475

SHEET DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed July 28, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 HKIIWamz 4 91M! A ril 8, 1958 H. SCHMIDT 2,829,475

SHEET DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed July 28, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 April 8, 1958 H. SCHMIDT 2,829,475

SHEET DISPENSING APPARATUS Filed July 28, 1954 e Sheets-Sheet e o o o /73 6 United States Patent SHEET DISPENSING APPARATUS Hermann Schmidt, Ludwigsburg, Germany Application July 28, 1954, Serial No. 446,361 Claims priority, application Germany August 5, 1953 18 Claims. (Cl. 53120) The present invention relates to sheet dispensing apparatus and more particularly to an apparatus for dispensing flexible sheets, such as paper money.

it is one object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for dispensing flexible sheets which reliably dispenses a single sheet of a stack of sheets.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a dispensing means which first moves in one direction to form a loop in a sheet, and then moves in an opposite direction to dispense the sheet.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide sheet holding means for clamping a stack of sheets in such manner that the sheet dispensing means may dispense a single sheet while the remaining sheets are firmly held by the holding means.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a clamping member shiftable between one position in which the middle portion of a stack of sheets is clamped while the dispensing means form a loop in one end portion of the uppermost sheet, and a second position in which a stack of bills is clamped at an end portion, while the uppermost sheet is dispensed.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide means for pushing dispensed bills into a receiving container.

it is an important object of the present invention to provide a bill dispensing apparatus which may be combined with a coin dispensing apparatus to constitute a currency dispensing apparatus.

With these objects in view the present invention mainly consists in a sheet dispensing apparatus which comprises, in combination, movable sheet dispensing" means; supporting means supporting the sheet dispensing means for movement in opposite direction; movable sheet holding means located opposite the sheet dispensing means so that the sheet dispensing means are adapted to engage a sheet held by the sheet holding means, the sheet holding means being movable between a first position for holding a sheet,

and a second position for releasing the sheet; first operating means for moving the sheet holding means between the first and second positions; second operating means for moving the dispensing means first in one direction and then in an opposite direction; and actuating means for actuating the first and second operating means in a predetermined sequence so that the sheet holding means is in the first position when the sheet dispensing means moves in the one direction for forming a loop in one end portion of the sheet, and is in the second position when the movable sheet dispensing means moves in the opposite direction for dispensing the sheet released by the sheet holding means in the second position.

Preferably, the sheet dispensing means are rotary friction disks which are supported on movable supporting means by which they are moved toward and away from a stack of sheets. The sheet holding means preferably include two fixed members defining a dispensing slot, and a clamping member which is shifted by the first operating means between a first position in which it clamps the stack 2 of sheets to one of the fixed members and asecond position in which it clamps the stack of sheets to the other fixed member.

The first operating means which move the clamping member preferably include a rotary cam disk and control means operated by the cam disk to shift the clamping member.

The second operating means preferably include a reciprocated toothed segment which meshes with gear means connected for rotation to the rotary dispensing means so that reciprocation of the toothed segment efiects first rotation of the rotary dispensing means in one direction, and then in the opposite direction for consecutively forming a'loop in a bill and then dispensing the bill.

Preferably third operating means are provided for shifting the movable supporting means of the rotary dispensing means toward and away from the stack of bills, the third operating means preferably including a pair of abutments on the toothed segment and a lever operated by the abutments and shifting the movable supporting means.

The cam disk which is an element of the first operating means is preferably used for actuating means for pushing a dispensed bill or sheet into a receiving container.

The actuating means preferably include a motor driven drive shaft, and a coupling device on the shaft which is actuated by manually operated means to connect the operating means to the drive shaft for performing a dispensing operation.

Preferably separate units are provided for bills of differentcur-rency denominations, each unit comprising a dispensing apparatus of the above described type.

A carrier for a single receiving container or bag is preferably provided for all units, and is shifted between the units to receive bills dispensed by a dispensing unit.

Preferably the bill dispensing apparatus according to the present invention is combined with a coin dispensing apparatus to form a currency dispensing apparatus. It is preferred to provide in such currency dispensing apparatus a common totalizer for totalizing and indicating the amount of currency dispensed in the form of bills and coins. t

The novel features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objectsand advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a frontview of the bill dispensingapparatus according to the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view of the embodiment shown in Fig. 1;

.Fig. 3 is a side view of the disepensing mechanismon an enlarged scale;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on line P4 in Fig. 3; t

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary side view, partly in section, of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3; v

Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on line 6 6 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on line 7-7 inFig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on' line 7-7 in Fig. .6 and showing a first operational position;

. Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line 9-9 in Fig. 6;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to Fig. 8 and showing another operational position of the mechanism;

Fig. 11 is a. side view of a constructive detail;

Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken on line 12-12 in Fig. 1 and showing the device on an enlarged scale;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken on line 13--13 in Fig. 12;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view showing a detail of Fig. I

12 on an enlarged scale and in a difierent operational position;

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary view corresponding to Fig. .14 and showing a further operational position;

Fig. 16 is a sectional view taken on line 16-16 in Fig. 12; and

Fig. 17 is an isometric view of a constructive detail of the embodiment shown in Fig. 12.

Referring now to the drawings, and more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 which show a preferred embodiment of the bill dispensing apparatus according to the present invention, three similar units are arranged beside each other, the unit A being provided for dispensing five dollar bills, the unit B being provided for dispensing ten dollar bills, and the unit C being provided for dispensing twenty dollar bills. Each unit includes a housing 10, 11, 12,

respectively, the housings provided with windows 101,

111, and 121, respectively, through which the bills stored in the storing containers of the units may be viewed from the outside. The units A, B, and C have bottom plates 40, 41, 42 which project forwardly toward the operator.

Dispensing keys 13, 14, and 15 are arranged above the projecting bottom plates, and are pressed-down for dispensing a single bill of the bills stored in the respective nnit.

It is possible to actuate the dispensing mechanisms in the interior of the units by the manual pressure exerted on the keys, but according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the manual actuation of the dispensing keys 13, 14 and 15 releases a motor driven dispensing mechanism. The drive means for the apparatus, which may for instance be an electro-motor and a suitable trans- It will be underto a preferred embodiment of the invention a receiving 1 container is provided for receiving dispensed bills. Preferably the receiving container is a bag 20, see Fig. 1, 12 and 17, and means are provided for pushing a dispensed bill into the bag 20 as will be described hereinafter. The receiving bag 20 is mounted on a carrier which is slidable on the supporting rail 22 so that the receiving bag 20 can be used with any one of the units, and is shifted to a position in front of the dispensing slots 17, 18, 19, respectively, before a bill is dispensed from one of the units. It is contemplated to provide means for auto matically shifting the receiving bag 20 between its position when a push button is operated.

The receiving bag is mounted on a carrier D, which will now be described with reference to Fig. 17. The

A holding member 26 is provided on the plate member 23. As best seen in Fig. 2, a projecting table member 25, secured to the housing, projects into the slot de fined by the plate members 23 and 26 so that pivoting of the carrier D about the rail 22 is prevented.

The dispensing of a bill will now be described with reference to Figs. 2 to 12. The dispensing mechanism of the unit A is illustrated, but it will be understood that the units B and C are provided with identical dispensing devices which may be adapted to larger size bills, if this is required by the type of currency dispensed by the apparatus.

A coupling device'E is arranged onthe motor driven drive shaft 16 and includes one part secured to the drive shaft 16 for rotation, and another part which is freely turnable on shaft 16 and is only connected for rotation to shaft 16 if the coupling device E is shifted from its released position to a coupling position.

The coupling device E of the unit A is actuated by the previously mentioned dispensing key 13, fixed on a lever 13a which is pivotally mounted on a pin 28. A link 30, is pivotally connected by a pin 29 to the inner end of lever 13a,.a nd pivotally connected at 31 to a bracing lever 32. A pin fixed on a holding lever 33 engages an-elongate'd slot in the bracing lever 32. The holding lever 33 is turnably mounted at 34 in the housing and is urged downwardly by a spring 35. Another spring 39 tends to pull the bracing lever 32 and the holding lever 33 together in a scissor-like motion. A stop 36 limits downward movement of the movable elements. The holding lever 33 has a projection 37 which is engaged by a projecting member 38 which is part of the coupling device E.

, When the key 13 is depressed, the link 39 and the bracing lever 32 raise the holding lever 33 so that the member 38 is released which under the action of a spring, not shown, engages by a pawl portion a'ratchet wheel, not shown, of the coupling device E so that the coupling device is moved into a coupling position in which the freely turnable part of the coupling device is connected to shaft 16 for rotation. The coupling device E and the above-described lever system effect a single rotation, or if desired a plurality of rotations, whenever the coupling device is shifted to coupling position by the key. 13, regardless of whether the key 13 is depressed for extended time, or immediately released. It will be understood that any coupling device which produces at least one completerevolution, Whenever actuated, may

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carrier D includes a plate member 23 which has two lateral guide members 24 which are provided with holes or slots for receiving the supporting rail 22 so as to be slidable on the same. The plate member 23 is formed with a slot 231 through which a bill is pushed into the bag 20 which is shown in dash and dot lines in Fig. v17. The plate member 23 is further provided with an elongated opening 232 through which a spring 21 passes which is secured to the plate member'23 at 211 and has two end portions bent to itself so as to form open loops 212 and 213 onto which the bag 20 is slipped. It will be understood that the spring 21 is first compressed into the posit1on shown in dash and dot lines to permit attachment of the receiving bag 20, whereupon the spring is released to hold the bag. The elongated opening 232 permits bending of the spring 21 at its yoke portion 214.' The loop portions 212 hold the bag open, as best Seen in Fig.

be used in the construction of the present invention.

With the part of the coupling device which is freely rotatable on the shaft 16 when the coupling device is released, a drivegear 43 is fixedly connected so that the drive gear 43 performs a complete revolution whenever key 13 is actuated. A gear 45 meshes with drive gear 43 and has a pin 46 fixed thereto which turnably supports one end of a connecting rod 47. The other end of connecting rod 47 is turnably connected to a toothed segment 48 which is turnable on a shaft 5t Consequently, rotation of gears 43 and 45 will effect rocking movement of the segment 48.

A pinion 51 which is mounted on a shaft 52 in the housing walls 69 and 70, see Figure 5, meshes with the toothed peripheral portion of the segment 48. The shaft 52 has end portions projecting through the housing walls 69 and 70 and secured to hearing plates 53 and 54. The pinion 51 also meshes with an intermediate pinion 56 which is turnably mounted on a short shaft 55 in the bearing plate 53. Intermediate pinion 56 meshes with a pinion 57 which is fixedly secured to a shaft 59. Shaft 59 is turnably mounted in the bearing plates 53 and 54. The shaft 59 carries a set of friction discs 58 which are preferably made of rubber and serve for frictionally engaging a bill during a dispensing operation, as will be described later. on. A spring 60 urges the bearing plate 53 and 54 together with the parts supported thereon into the operational position shown in Fig. 3.

Two abutment members 116 and 117 are secured to the toothed segment 48 as best seen in Fig. 11. The abutment members 116 and 117 cooperate with the arm 119 of an angular lever 119, 120 which is turnably mounted in the housing at 118. The other arm 120 of the angular lever engages in a predetermined operational position the bearing plate 53 and raises the same until the stop 122, see Fig. 11 limits such movement.

The previously mentioned gear is fixed to a cam disc 61, as best seen in Figs. 3 and 4. The cam disc 61 cooperates with two control levers 64 and which have projecting cam follower portions 62 and 63 and are turnably mounted on pins 66 and 67. The control levers 64 and 65 are provided at their free ends with projecting portions 201 and 202 in which guide pins 203 and. 204 are mounted, see Figs. 7 and 9. The projecting portions 201 and 202 pass through oval openings 71 and '72 in the housing wall 69, see Fig. 6. The guide pins 203 and 204 project into elongated slots 73 and 74 of a control slide member 75 which is guided in guiding means 76 and 77 secured to the inner surface of the housing wall 69.

As best seen in Figs. 6 and 9, two holding plates 82 and 93 are fixedly secured to the housing walls 69 and 70 by means of bolts 78 and 79 and bushings 80 and 81. The holding plates 82 and 83 are provided with slots 84 and 85 into which the end portions of a rod 86 projects. Rod 86 is mounted on a U-shaped support 87 which passes through a transverse supporting member 88. A spring means 89 is secured at one end thereof to the supporting bar 88 and at the other end to the rod 86 and tends to move the U-shaped support 87 to the left in Fig. 6. A handle 90 is secured to the U-shaped support 87 so that it can be pulled back against the action of the spring 89 with the ends of rod 86 sliding in the slots 84 and 8.5 of the holding plates 82 and 83.

Two links 91 and 92 are turnably mounted on the rod 86 and are pivotally connected by pins 93 and 94 to the arms 95 and 96 of two-armed levers 95, 97 and 96, 98. These two-armed levers are fixed to a shaft 99 by pins 100 and 205. A lever 102 is fixed to one endof shaft 99 by a pin 103 and has on its free end a fixed projecting pin 104 which engages the slot 105 of the control slide member 75, see also Figure 9.

A clamping member 106 includes two side walls 107 and 108 which are provided at their inner ends with projecting abutments 206, 207 defining a recess for receiving the shaft 99 so that the projecting abutments 206, 207 limit movement of the clamping member 106. A clamping plate 208 which preferably has a slightly arcuate front face, is secured to the side walls 107 and 108. The upper and lower clamping edges 124 and 125 of the clamping plate 208 serve for clamping bills during a dispensing operation. Pins 114 and are secured to the lateral ends of the clamping plate 208 and are guided in slots 112 and 113 of the housing walls 70 and 69. The side walls 107, 108 of the clamping member 106 are formed with bores 130 and 131 into which the pivot pins 132 and 133 project which are secured to the lever arms 97 and 98.

A storing container 27 is provided for storing bills which are to be dispensed from unit A, and as best seen in Figs. 6 and 7 includes two plates 126 and 127 which define a dispensing opening 128. Wall means 179 of the bill storing container 27 are provided with an opening through which the clamping member 106 passes. Pref erably at least one plate 127 is adjustable.

The operation of the bill dispensing unit will now be described:

When the dispensing key 13 is depressed, the coupling device E is moved to its coupling position so that the drive gear 43 performs a single complete revolution regardless of whether the key is held depressed, or immediately released. Consequently, the cam disc 61 turns a single complete revolution, when key 13 is depressed.

In the position of rest, that is when the machine is not operated and no dispensing key is depressed, the clamping member 106 is in the first clamping position shown in Figs. '7 and 8 in which a stack of bills 209 is pressed by the clamping edge 124 of the clamping member 208 against the inner face of the plate 127. When the clamping member 106 .is in this position, the angularlever 119, is in the position shown in Fig. 3 so that the bearing plates 53 and 54 are pivoted by the spring 60 into the lower position thereof in which the friction discs 58 press against the bills 209, see Figs. 8 and 10.

At the begin of the turning of the gear 45, the connecting rod 47 moves to the right in Figs. 3 and 4 into a retracted dead center position. During this movement of the connecting rod 47, the segment 48 is turned through an angle a in clockwise direction as shown in Fig. 3. During turning of the segment 48 through this angle, the pinion 57, the shaft 59, and friction disks 58 are turned through pinions 51, 56 in counterclockwise direction as indicated by the arrow Q in Fig. 8. During such turning movement, the friction discs 58 rotate counterclockwise while in engagement with the uppermost bill so that the lower portion of the uppermost bill 209 is pulled back and a loop 129 is formed in the bill between the friction disc 58 and the plate 127. As shown in Fig. 8, the lower edge of the bill is pulled up and away from the edge of plate 126, while the loop passes through the opening 128 between the plates 126 and 127. During this operation the angular lever 119, 120 slides on the upper face of the abutment 116, as best seen in Fig. 3, to hold the bearing plates 53, 54 in a position in which the friction disks 58 engage the bills.

Continued rotation of the gear 45 beyond the dead center position of the connecting rod 47 turns segment 48 in counterclockwise direction as shown in Fig. 4 so that pinion 57 turns in clockwise direction, and the friction discs 58 also turn in clockwise direction as indicated by the arrow R in Fig. 10. In the dead center position of the connecting rod 47 the clamping member 106 is shifted shortly before the reversed rotation of friction discs 58 starts so that the clamping edge presses the pileof bills 209 against the plate 126, while the clamping edge 124 releases the bills. Consequently rotation of the friction discs 58 in clockwise direction downwardly moves the uppermost bill 209, which is the only bill not clamped between the clamping member 106 and the clamping plate 126. Since the lower end portion of the uppermost bill 129 has been pulled into the opening 128 during the previous counterclockwise rotation of the friction discs 58, the clockwise rotation of the friction discs 58 now pushes the uppermost bill 209 outof the opening 128 along the outer face of the plate member 126. i The friction discs 58 are in engaging position as long as the segment 48 moves through an angle n+5 in counterclockwise direction. 1 Approximately at the end of the turning movement, the abutment 117 engages the arm 119 of the angular lever 119, 120 with its projection and pivots the angular lever 119, 120 into the position shown in Fig. 11, in which the angular lever 119, 120 pivots the bearing plate 53 about the shaft 52 in counterclockwise direction so that the friction discs 58move away from the opening 128, and from the bills in the bill storing container 27.

The segment 48 is then turned by the connecting rod 47 through the angle 5 in clockwise direction until the single revolution of the gears 43 and 45 has been completed. During such movement of the segment 48 the bills are not influenced since the friction discs 58 remain spaced from the bills. At the approach to the initial position, the abutment 116 engages the angular lever 119, 120 and turns the same into the position shown in Fig. 3 so that the spring 60 turns thebearing plates 53, 54 clockwise, and the friction discs 58 engage the uppermost bill and are ready for the next operation.

' The'operation and actuation of'the clamping member :106 will now be described:

the angle a, the control levers pivot inwardly and outwardly, respectively and shift the control slide member 75 to an upper portion in Figs. 3 and 7. Shifting of the control slide member 75 effects movement of the pin 104 so that the arm 102 turns the shaft 99 through a corresponding angle. Turning of the shaft 99 eifects turning of the two-armed levers 96,98 and-95, 97 through corresponding angles so that the pins 132, which engage the bores 133 and 131 in the side walls 107 and 108, turn the clamping member 106 until the lower abutments 207 engage the shaft 99. I The clamping member 106 -'is now in the position shown in Figs. 9 and 10- in which the lower clamping edge 125 presses the bills against the plate 126. The clamping member 106 remains in this position during the rocking of the segment 48 in clockwise direction through the angles 1+5, that is during the phase of the operation in which the outermost bill is dispensed by the friction disc 58.

' After the movement of the segment 43 through the angles (1+5 is terminated, as above described, the segment 48 moves in the opposite direction, and during such movement the control slide member is returned by the control levers 63 and 64 to its former position so that the clamping member" 106returns to the position shown in Fig. 7 in which the clamping edge 24 of the clamping plate 208 presses the bills against the plate member 127.

bill.

' The handle serves for retracting members 87, 86, 91, 92, 95, 96, 97, 98 whereby clamping member 106 can be retracted from the plate 127 for insertion and removal of bills. The slots 84, 85, permit movement of rod 86 and shaft 99.

The dispensed bills may be deposited on a horizontal surface, but according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention dispensed bills are placed in a receiving bag. The mechanism for placing dispensed bills in the receiving bag 20 will now be described. A bell crank lever 152, 153 is pivotally mounted at 151 and provided with a cam follower roller engaging the cam face of the cam disc 61 due to the action of the spring 154. A link 210 is pivotally connected to the arm 153, and is connected at the other end thereof with a lever 155 by a pin 156. The lever 155 is fixedly connected for. rotation to a shaft 157 by a pin 158. Shaft 157 is turnably mounted in the housing walls 69 and 70 and is secured by rings 159 against movement in axial direction.

A further lever arm 160 is secured by the pin 161 to shaft 157 and has a free end pivotally connected at 164 to a pawl lever 163 which is provided with a. projection 162. Pawl lever 163 is pressed by a spring 165 against a stop pin 166. A pin 180 secured to the lever arm 160 serves as a stop for the pawl lever 163 when the same moves away from the stop pin 166 in an upward direction.

A sleeve 167 is turnable on the shaft 157 and has two projecting arms 168 and 169. The arm 168 cooperates with a spring 170 which tends to turn arm 168, sleeve 167, and thereby arm 169 in clockwise direction as illustrated in Figs. 12 to 15. At the inner end of arm 169, an abutment 171 cooperating with the projection 162 of the pawl lever 163 is provided. A link 173 is pivotally connected to the free end of arm 169 at 172, and

is also pivoted by pin 175 to a slide 174 which is guided on the front wall 176 of the housing.

ceiving container is as follows:

The dispensing unit is now ready for dispensing a further "mentioned application. continuous rotation of the coupling device E'will obtain In the position of rest all levers are in the positions shown in Fig. 12. The arm 169 and consequently the slide 174 are in the upper position thereof into which they are urged by the spring 170. Pawl lever 163 engages the stop 166 under the action of the spring 165. When the cam disc 61 turns in clockwise direction no change takes place in the positions of the levers as long as the cam follower roller 150 runs on the cam face -177 of the cam disc 61. As soon as a cam follower 150 leaves the cam face 177, the bell crank lever 152, 153 turns in clockwise direction about the shaft 151 so that the arm 153 presses the link 210 upwardly in the direction of the arrow S until the lever 163 snaps with its projection 162 over the abutment 171. When the cam follower 150 again runs onto the cam face 177, the bell crank lever 152, 153 is turned in clockwise direction, and pulls the link 210 and therewith the arm 169 in downward direction. During such pivoting movement, the arm 169 moves the slide 174 through the link 173 so that the slide 174 moves along the front wall 176 and pushes the bill 178 into the receiving bag 120. The downward movement of the slide 174 is continued until the lever 163 engages the stop 166 and releases after a short motion the abutment 171 of the arm 169 which rapidly turns in upward direction due to the actionof the spring 170 when released so that the slide 174 returns to its initial position.

The sequence of the above-described operation and of the bill dispensing operation is such that the bill is pushed into the receiving bag 20 directly after it is dispensed through the dispensing opening 128.

The dispensing device has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment in which rotary friction discs are provided for first forming a loop and then dispensing the uppermost bill. It will be understood that instead of rotary dispensing means, a friction dislpensing means performing a rectilinear reciprocating movement can be provided so that the uppermost bill is first retracted to form a loop and then dispensed by opposite movement of the reciprocable dispensing means.

The windows 101, 111, and 121 in the bill storing containers 27 of the units A, B and C permit viewing of the contents of the bill containers. Preferably, the structure located behind the transparent window including the slide 174 is made at least partly of transparent material.

A sheet dispensing apparatus according to the present invention preferably comprises movable sheet dispensing means 58; supporting means 54, 55 supporting the sheet dispensing means 58; sheet holding means including the clamping member 106 and two fixed members 126. and 127; first operating means for shifting the clamping member 106 and including the cam disk 61 and the members 63, 64, 75, 102, 99, 97 and 98; second operating means for turning the rotary dispensing means 58 in opposite directions and including the gear 45, the connecting rod 47, the toothed segment 48, and the gear means 51, 56 and 57; and an actuating drive means including the drive shaft 16 and a coupling device for coupling the drive shaft 16 with the gear 43 which meshes with gear 45.

Third operating means including the abutments 116, 117, and the angular lever 119, 120 are provided for shifting the movable supporting means 53, 54 of the rotary dispensing means 58.

The coupling device E has been described to achieve a single complete revolution of the gear 43. According to a preferred embodiment the dispensing key 13 and the lever 13a may be raised instead of being depressed to move the coupling device into a position in which the gear 43 is connected for rotation to the drive shaft 16 as long as the key 13 is raised. A construction of this type is described inrdetail in my copending previously It will be understood that the 9 consecutive dispensing of bills as long as the key 13 is raised so that it becomes possible to remove all bills stored in the machine in rapid succession if a checking of the contents of the machine is desired.

The bill dispensing apparatus of the present invention is preferably used in connection with a currency dispensing apparatus which also includes dispensing means for dispensing coins and is described in my above mentioned copending application. Preferably the dispensed amounts are registered by a totalizer and indicated so that the amount of currency dispensed by the apparatus may be checked by the cashier and the customer.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together, may also find a useful application in other types of sheet dispensing apparatus diifering from the types described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied in a bill dispensing apparatus including rotary dispensing means and shiftable bill clamping means, it is not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can by appiying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairlyconstitute essential char acteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalence of the following claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

l. in a sheet dispensing apparatus, in combination, movable sheet dispensing means movable in one direction for forming a loop in a sheet and movable in an opposite direction for dispensing said sheet; supporting means supporting said sheet dispensing means for movement in said directions; movable sheet holding means located opposite said sheet dispensing means so that said sheet dispensing means are adapted to engage a sheet held by said sheet holding means, said sheet holding means being movable between a first position for holding a sheet, and a second position for releasing the sheet; first operating means for moving said sheet holding means between said first and second positions; second operating means for moving said dispensing means first in said one direction and then in said opposite direction; and actuating means for actuating said first and second operating means in a predetermined sequence so that said sheet holding means is in said first position when said sheet dispensing means moves in said one direction for forming a loop in one endportion of the sheet, and is in said second position when said movable sheet dispensing means moves in said opposite direction for dispensing the sheet released by said sheet holding means in said second posi tion.

2. in a sheet dispensing apparatus, in combination, movable sheet dispensing means; supporting means supporting said sheet dispensing means for movement in opposite directions; movable sheet holding means located opposite said sheet dispensing means so that said sheet means are adapted to engage the uppermost sheet of a stack of sheets held by said sheet holding means, said sheet holding means being movable between a first position for holding the middle portion of a stack of sheets, and a second position releasing said middle portion and holding a set of one end portions of the sheets of said stack of sheets; first operating means for moving said sheet holding means between said first and second positions; second operating means for moving said dispensing means rst in one direction and then in an opposite direction; and actuating means for actuating saidfirst and second operating, means. in a predetermined sequence so that said sheet holding means is in said first position when said sheet dispensing means moves in said one direction for forming a loop in said one end portion of the uppermost sheet so that said one end portion of the uppermost sheet is moved away from said one end portions of the sheets of said stack of sheets, and so that said sheet holding means is in said second position when said movable sheet dispensing means moves in said opposite direction for dispensing the uppermost sheet whose said one end portion is released by said sheet holding means while said one end portions of the stack of other sheets is held by said sheet holding means in said second position.

3. In a sheet dispensing apparatus, in combination, movable sheet dispensing means; supporting means supporting said sheet dispensing means for movement in opposite directions movable sheet holding means located oppositesaid sheet dispensing means so that said sheet dispensing means are adapted to en age the uppermost sheet of stack of sheets held by said sheet holding means, said sheet holding means including two spaced fixed members defining a dispensing opening located opposite said sheet dispensing means, and a movable clamping member movable between first position for clamping the middle portion of a stack of sheets against one of said fixed members, and a second position for clamping a set of one end portions of the sheets of said stack of sheets against the other of said fixed members; first operating means for moving said movable clamping member between said first and second positions; second operating means for moving said dispensing means first in one direction and then in an opposite direction; and actuating means for actuating said first and second operating means in a predetermined sequence so that said movable clamp-- ing member is in said first position when said sheet dis-- pensing means moves in said one direction for forming a loop in said one end portion of the uppermost sheet so that said one end portion of the uppermost sheet is moved away from said one endportions of the sheets of said stack of sheets, and so that said movable clamping member is in said second position when said movable sheet dispensing means moves in said opposite direction for dispensing the uppermost sheet whose said one end portion is released by said movable clamping member while said one end portions of the stack of other sheets is held by said movable clamping member in said second position.

4. In a sheet dispensing apparatus, in combination, rotary sheet dispensing means turnable in one direction for forming a loop in a sheet and turnable in an opposite direction for dispensing said sheet; supporting means sup porting said sheet dispensing means for turning ,rne ement in said directions; movable sheet holding means located opposite said sheet dispensing means so that said sheet dispensing means are adapted to engage a sheet held by said sheet holding means, said sheet holding means being movable between a first position for holding a sheet, and a second position for releasing the sheet; first operating means for moving said sheet holding means be tween said first and second positions; second operating means for turning said dispensing means first in said one direction and then in said opposite direction; and actuating means for actuating said first and second operating means in a predetermined sequence so that said sheet holding means is in said first position when said sheet dispensing means turns in said one direction for forming a loop in one end portion of the sheet, and is in said econd position when said rotary sheet dispensing means turns in said opposite direction for dispensing the sheet released by said sheet holding means in second position.

5. In a sheet dispensing apparatus, in combination, rotary sheet dispensing means; supporting means supporting said sheet dispensing means for turning movement inopposite directions; movable sheet holding means 11 located opposite said sheet dispensing means so that said sheet dispensing means are adapted to engage the uppermost sheet of a stack of sheets held by said sheet holding means, said sheet holding means including two spaced fixed members defining a dispensing opening located opposite said sheet dispensing means, and a movable clamp ing member movable between a first position for clamping the middle portion of a stack of sheets against one of said fixed members, and a second position for clamping a set of one end portions of the sheets of said stack of sheets against the other of said fixed members; first operating means for moving said movable clamping member between said first and second positions; second operating means for turning said dispensing means first in one direction and then in an opposite direction; and actuating means for actuating said first and second operating means in a predetermined sequence so that said movable clamping member is in said first position when said sheet dispensing means moves in said one direction for forming a loop in said one end portion of the uppermost sheet so that'said one end portion of the uppermost sheet is moved away from said one end portions of the sheets of said stack of sheets, and so that said movable clamping member is in said second position when said movable sheet dispensing means moves in said opposite direction for dispensing the uppermost sheet whose said one end portion is released by said movable clamping member while said one end portions of the stack of other sheets is held by said movable clamping member in said second position.

6. In a sheet dispensing apparatus, in combination, rotary sheet dispensing means; supporting means supporting said sheet dispensing means for turning movement in opposite directions, said supporting means being movable for moving said sheet dispensing means between an advanced position and a retracted position; movable sheet holding means located opposite said sheet dispensing means so that said sheet dispensing means in said advanced position are adapted to engage a sheet held by said sheet holding means, said sheet holding means being movable between a first position for holding a sheet, and a second position for releasing the sheet; first operating means for moving said sheet holding means between said first and second positions; second operating means for turning said dispensing means first in one direction and then in an opposite direction; and actuating means for actuating said first and second operating means and for moving said movable supporting means in a predetermined sequence so that said sheet holding means is in said first position when said sheet dispensing means in said advanced position moves in said one direction for forming a loop in one end portion of the sheet, and is in said second position when said movable sheet dispensing means in said advanced position moves in said opposite direction for dispensing the sheet released by said sheet holding means in said second position.

7. in a sheet dispensing apparatus, in combination, rotary sheet dispensing means; supporting means supporting said sheet dispensing means for turning movement in opposite directions, said supporting means being movable for moving said sheet dispensing means between an advanced position and a retracted position; movable sheet holding 1' cans located opposite said sheet dispensing means so that said sheet dispensing means in said advanced position are adapted to engage the uppermost sheet of a stack of sheets held by said sheet holding means, said sheet holding means including two spaced fixed members defining a dispensing opening located opposite said sheet dispensing means, and a movable clamping member movable between a first position for clamping the middle portion of a stack of sheets against one of said fixed members, and a second position for clamping a set of one end portions of the sheets of said stack of sheets against the other of said fixed members; first op- 'erating means formoving said movable clamping memher between said first and second positions; second operating'means for turning said dispensing means first in one direction and then in an opposite direction; and actuating means for actuating said first and second operating means and for moving said movable supporting means in a predetermined sequence so that said movable clamping member is in said first position when said sheet dispensing means in said advanced position moves in said one direction for forming a loop in said one end portion of the uppermost sheet so that said one end portion of the uppermost sheet is moved away from said one end portions of the sheets of said stack of sheets, and so that said movable clamping member is in said second position when said movable sheet dispensing means in said advanced position moves in said opposite direction for dispensing the uppermost sheet whose said one end por tion is released by said movable clamping member while said one end portions of the stack of other sheets is held by said movable clamping member in said second position.

8. A sheet dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said rotary sheet dispensing means includes at least one friction roller, and a shaft supporting said friction roller; and wherein said movable supporting means is a pair of pivoted bearing plates supporting said shaft; and including third operating means for pivoting said bearing plates between an advanced position in which said friction roller is adapted to engage a sheet, and a retracted position in which said friction roller is retracted, said third operating means being connected to said first operating means and actuated by the same in a predetermined sequence with said first and second operating means.

9. A sheet dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said second operating means include a toothed segment; gear means meshing with said toothed segment and including a gear fixed on said shaft for turning said friction roller; and means for reciprocating said toothed segment.

10. A sheet dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 7 and including a supporting member supporting said clamping member for movement in a direction transverse to the movement between said first and second positions thereof; and spring means urging said clamping member to move in said transverse direction into engagement with said fixed members.

11. A sheet dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 10 and including manually operated means secured to said supporting member for retracting the same and said clamping member from said fixed members.

12. A sheet dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 7 wherein said first operating means include a rotary cam disk; a pair of pivoted control levers engaging said cam disk; a movable control slide connected to said control levers and being moved by the same when said control levers are pivoted by said cam disk; and lever means operated by said control slide for moving said clamping member between said first and second positions.

13. A sheet dispensing apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said second operating means include a toothed segment, gear means meshing with said toothed segment and including a gear connected for rotation to said rotary sheet dispensing means, a wheel connected for rotation to said cam disk, and a connecting rod connecting said wheel with said toothed segment for reciprocating the latter; and further comprising third operating means for moving said movable supporting means between an advanced position in which said rotary sheet dispensing means is adapted to engage a sheet and a retracted position in which said rotary dispensing means is retracted from said sheet, said third operating means including a pivoted lever engaging said movable supporting means; and a pair of spaced abutments fixed on said toothed segment and engaging said pivoted lever during reciprocation of said toothed segment for shifting said movable 13 supporting means in a predetermined sequence with the reversal Of notation of said rotary sheet dispensing means.

M. In a sheet dispensing apparatus, in combination, movable sheet dispensing means; supporting means supporting said sheet dispensing means for movement in opposite directions; movable sheet holding means located oppositesaid sheet dispensing meaps so that said sheet dispensing means are adapted to engage the uppermost sheet of a stack of sheets held by said sheet holding means, said sheet holding means being movable between a first position for holding the middle portion of a stack of sheets, and a second position releasing said middle portion and holding a set of one end portions of the sheets of said stack of sheets; first operating means for moving said sheet holding means between said first and second positions; second operating means for moving said dis pensing means first in one direction and then in an opposite direction; and actuating drive means including a drive shaft, a rotary means freely rotatable on said drive shaft, a coupling device for coupling said rotary means with said drive shaft, and manually operated means for operating said coupling device, said rotary means being connected to said first and second operating means for actuating said first and second operating means in a predetermined sequence so that said sheet holding means is in said first position when said sheet dispensing means moves in said one direction for forming a loop in said one end portion of the uppermost sheet so that said one end portion of the uppermost sheet is moved away from said one end portions of the sheets of said stack of sheets, and so that said sheet holding means is in said second position when said movable sheet dispensing means moves in said opposite direction for dispensing the uppermost sheet whose said one end portion is released by said sheet holding means while said one end portions of the stack of other sheets is held by said sheet holding means in said second position.

15. In a sheet dispensing apparatus, in combination, rotary sheet dispensing means; supporting means supporting said sheet dispensing means for turning movement in opposite directions, said supporting means being movable for moving said sheet dispensing means between an advanced position and a retracted position; movable sheet holding means located opposite said sheet dispensing means so that said sheet dispensing means in said advanced position are adapted to engage the uppermost sheet of a stack of sheets held by said sheet holding means, said sheet holding means including two spaced fixed members defining a dispensing opening located opposite said sheet dispensing means, and a movable clamping member movable between a first position for clamping the middle portion of a stack of sheets against one of said fixed members, and a second position for clamping a set of one end portions of the sheets of said stack of sheets against the other of said fixed members; first operating means for moving said movable clamping member between said first and second positions; second operating means for turning said dispensing means first in one direction and then in an opposite direction; and actuating drive means including a drive shaft, a rotary means freely rotatable on said drive shaft, a coupling device for coupling said rotary means with said drive shaft, and manually operated means for operating said coupling device, said rotary means being connected to said first and second operating means for actuating said first and second operating means and for moving said movable supporting means in a predetermined sequence so that said movable clamping member is in said first position when said sheet dispensing means in said advanced position moves in said one direction for forming a loop in said one end portion of the uppermost sheet so that said one end portion of the uppermost sheet is moved away from said one end portions of the sheets of said stack of sheets, and so that said movable clamping member is in said second position when said movable Sheet dispensing means-in said advanced position moves uppermost opposite directions; movable sheet holding means located opposite said sheet dispensing means so that said sheet dispensing means are adapted to engage a sheet held by said sheet holding means, said sheet holding means being movable between a first position for holding a sheet, and a second position for releasing the sheet; first operating means for moving said sheet holding means between said first and second positions; second operating means for moving said dispensing means first in one direction and then in an opposite direction; actuating means for actuating said first and second operating meansin a predetermined sequence so that said sheet holding means is in said first position when said sheet dispensing means moves in said one direction for forming a loop in one end portion of the sheet, and is in said second position when said movable sheet dispensing means moves in said opposite direction for dispensing the sheet released by said sheet holding means in said second position; carrier means located adjacent said movable sheet dispensing means for carrying a receiving container; and pushing means for pushing a sheet dispensed by said dispensing means into a receiving container carried by said carrier means.

17. In a container filling apparatus as claimed in claim 16 wherein said first operating means include a driven rotary cam disk; and including motion-transmitting means operated by said cam disk and connected to said pushing means so that said pushing means are operated in a predetermined sequence with said first operating means.

18. In acontainer filling apparatus, in combination, movable sheet dispensing means; supporting means supporting said sheet dispensing means for movement in opposite directions; movable sheet holding means located opposite said sheet dispensing means so that said sheet dispensing means are adapted to engage a sheet held by said sheet holding means, said sheet holding means being movable between a first position for holding a sheet, and a second position for releasing the sheet; first operating means for moving said sheet holding means between said first and second positions; second operating means for moving said dispensing means first in one direction and then in an opposite direction; actuating means for actuating said first and second operating means in a predetermined sequence so that said sheet holding means is in said first position when said sheet dispensing means moves in said one direction for forming a loop in one end portion of the sheet, and is in said second position when said movable sheet dispensing means moves in said opposite direction for dispensing the sheet released by said sheet holding means in said second position; carrier means located adjacent said movable sheet dispensing means for supporting a receiving container, said carrier means including a plate formed with a slot located opposite said dispensing means; a pusher slide movable between a retracted position, and an advanced position passing through a slot so as to project into said receiving container carried by said carrier means; and motion transmitting means connecting said first operating means with said movable slide for operating same in a predetermined sequence with said first and second operating means, said motion transmitting means including a lever having an abutment, a pawl lever movable between a first position engaging said abutment and a second position releasing said abutment, spring means acting on said pawl lever and urging the same to move to said second position, and a cam follower,

15 said first operating means including a rotary cam disk 2,332,156 cooperating with said cam follower. 2,408,838

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 1,152,358 Rcifsnyder et 211. Aug. 31, 1915 1,972,731 Duncan et a1 Sept. 4, 1934 162,802

*16 Long Oct. 19, 1943 Wilckens et a1 Oct. 8, 1946 Davidson Aug. 16, 1949 Rockwell Oct. 2, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Germany Sept. 21, 1905 

